Nigel Sense at Bridgette Mayer Gallery

Nigel Sense: A Nomad’s Palette Finds Philadelphia

Stepping into Bridgette Mayer Gallery this spring is like uncorking a bottle of Malaysia’s tart-sweet drink for which Nigel Sense names his first Philadelphia solo exhibition, “Asam Boi”. Eighteen new canvases line the white-brick walls, each a fizz of citrus-bright color and swaggering brushwork that pays homage to the artist’s recent residency in Penang.

^{“Beers Always Cost More On The Beach” 2024, acrylic on canvas, 21.65 x 21.65 inches (left)
“Ice Milk Tea Time” 2024, acrylic on canvas, 21.65 x 21.65 inches (right)}

Raised on the punchy aesthetics of 1960s Pop and the gestural bravado of Abstract Expressionism, Nigel Sense gathers fragments of travel—street-market signage, overheard slang, a glimpse of neon across humid dusk—and lets them collide in paint. Drips run, lines misbehave, and typeface snippets fight for space, but the eye never feels crowded; instead, there is a lyrical rhythm to the chaos, a reminder that discovery is made in motion. Sense calls his roaming research trips “going fishing,” and you can trace every cast on the canvas: a hot-pink swipe echoes temple lanterns, while a chalky turquoise block seems to bottle the monsoon sky just before the downpour.

Nigel Sense: Imperfection as Anthem

Sense’s brush is unfiltered, almost rebellious, yet never careless; each impulsive mark converses with a ghost layer beneath, creating depth that invites slow looking. The exhibition’s metaphor—a drink that’s equal parts salty, sour, and sweet—feels apt: these paintings taste of jet lag, street-food euphoria, and the heart-tug of home left temporarily behind.

Paired in the gallery’s Vault with Philadelphia-based artist, Mark Stockton’s G.L.R. (George/Lincoln/Rockwell) exhibition, the show frames human complexity from two angles: Stockton’s meticulous realism and Sense’s exuberant immediacy. Together they form a compelling dialogue on truth and performance.

^{“Sunset With iPhone” 2024, acrylic on canvas, 47.24 x 55.12 inches (left)
“Casio Keyboard Warrior” 2024, acrylic on canvas, 47.24 x 55.12 inches (right)}

For collectors seeking work that crackles with energy yet sustains repeated viewing, Nigel Sense offers a persuasive argument that perfection is overrated—and honest delight is timeless.

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